Gold is like a magnet, once you have found it you want more. This is the place to tell us what you want to do or just discuss any issues you feel it appropriate. We provide the answers to your questions on gold detecting and prospecting.

Edward Hargraves... "discovered" gold in Australia while wearing a Tophat and Red Coat in the middle of nowhere. No doubt people threw rocks at him for his audacious choice in jackets.

PROSPECTING ATTIRE: What a Prospector Wears

With a recent personal verbal attack (not an understatement) on what I chose to wear in terms of equipment and accessory tools whilst exploring a Gold Field recently, I came across some pictures of Prospecting Attire in the Yukon (North Canada) in the 1890's ....and it got me thinking about trends in Australia's gold mining past. Because if there's anything prone to change, its the attire people wear over several centuries. Do you wear a tie to work? Congratulations! You are guilty of wearing the most useless piece of clothing man has worn since the codpiece. In less than a century, that picture of you at the office wearing your tie will make you the subject of lewd and humorous greeting cards... or e-cards perhaps... sometime well prior to the 22nd century.

When the gold bug bit the prospectors on Australia's early colonies, and an endless tide of man and beast fought their way across land through the bush to get to the diggings, it was standard fare to buy and wear exactly what every other miner was wearing at the time. New Chums who turned up empty handed at the diggings without bread were so numerous that they became known as "Loafers" because they would beg for bread loaf crusts to survive. Those who were smart enough to bring a spare set of boots or extra equipment were sure to make a dollar or two selling them to those without. But what they wore was essentially the same, boring colours and styles as everyone else. Surely there's a few members here who remember just how few colours were around in our "modern" society in the days before the psychedelic 60s. The 1800's were certainly offering a whole lot less in the way of choice. If you were an accountant, you shaved your head (an open sign of wealth in the day)... perhaps a little like the way Physicians and Doctors would make duck noises around the same time to get the attention of townsfolk before selling them a remedy for ailment... and resulting in the nickname of "Quacks" which persists to this day. That little RX on a doctor's prescription or the local Pharmacy sign was actually an old Roman prayer to the Gods which persists even to this day. Why? Because all the other doctors are doing it. Imitation is not always the highest form of flattery.. sometimes it's just blind ignorance.

But the goldfields in Australia in the mid 1850s were a strange time and place. In Sydney it took months to get to the diggings by trail. In Queensland the Merkin tribe were eating prospectors whenever they could catch and kill them. People wore whatever they could afford and no-one dressed for a profession they were not entitled to if it was above their station in life's ladder. But Prospectors were a different breed of (mostly) idiots who were lured to the bush under promise of riches but often failed in their quest for gold and glory. This was a day before designer labels and major brand names. Miner's Jeans by the Levi Strauss company were possibly the first "trend" to catch on and the first "rivets" attached to the jeans were actually put there as a joke: to prove how "tough" the jeans were to anyone who glanced at them. The popularity of these jeans on the goldfields in California resulted in a patent being granted to use Copper rivets in them. Some of the diggers arriving in Australia took on the American habit of wearing a silk scarf around their waist - which was the trend of the Californian diggers. Some were laughed at (in several written accounts!) because of their decision to wear the American attire in Australia. In another account, word got around on the NSW diggings that a red shirt would repel flies... low and behold, within a few weeks, every prospector was wearing a red shirt.

Trends in techniques also caught on. One guy built a cradle on the Ophir diggings based on what Cornish miners had used and within a short amount of time he gave up digging in order to work full time making rockers and cradles for the endless number of prospectors demanding them. Now that's just supply vs demand. The same was true in Australia whenever a new coil came out that a prospector wrote about on the internet... every man worth his salt was off to the detecting store to buy one of those very same coils because that's what all the "successful prospectors" were using.

Let's go back to the various types of attire people were wearing:

If you were a Prospector headed to the Yukon far North to look for gold, the first thing you needed to have was a good sense of humour because the trend in the day was to lash all your equipment to a poor dog and force it to carry your burden until it dropped from exhaustion or you were forced to eat the poor creature. What isn't showed in these two photographs is that Canadian Border Mounties at the border refused to allow anyone into Yukon Territory without a full year's ration after the first group of prospectors perished from lack of supplies after winter set in. Also, the clothing worn would suggest a days hiking in the swiss alps whilst shooting rabbits. The reality of this error in fundamental understanding of appropriate attire meant that plenty of these brave, fashion conscious men perished miserably, though rather well dressed, on the long journey North.

From the 1850's to the 1890's, the classic prospector look came into fashion. In Nevada (USA), the shovel and pick alongside a steel pan and a burrough were the norm and this is what most prospectors seemed to wear along with suspenders, a scarf and long legged boots (sounds an awful lot like what my wife might wear). A revolver on the hip would defend against attacking Indians or a wolf or a bear. It certainly was the only thing between a miner's gold and the hands of a murderous thief. In Australia, the popular guns were those made here and those from the USA because the cheaper English guns were prone to metal fatigue and blew up on occasion, maiming the owner. This is exactly the reason why the New Zealanders preferred to buy Australian made guns during the brutal Maori Wars of the 1800s. But those lace-up boots on the top left image look quite a lot like the ones I was sporting last week, drawing ire and ridicule from some members of this forum and even another. I don't give two hoots because my boots are more comfortable than theirs and they protect my feet well. The man with the teapot (lower left B&W photograph) on his waist is actually an Australian Gold Prospector. To the Aussie Miners, the teapot (or billy) was as essential as the pick and shovel they carried. Life without tea was what drove some of them insane and many added putrid water from a contaminated waterhole to their billy of tea than go without. Bear Grylls would laugh at them, pull the grubs from a dead carcass nearby and add them to the tea for a protein boost.

The picture above is a collection of photographs taken from 1889 to 1899. Even the one in the top-right-hand corner showing men with 'sunglasses' was taken prior to 1900 on the Klondike goldfield trail at the Chilkoot Pass. Let's look at all the stupid attire in these pictures: There's a man with a pipe in the top left. No doubt the short brim of his hat did not prevent the ravages of sunburn in the thin Arctic air where he was. We have the funny looking guy (I can make fun of him because he's been dead for over a hundred years or more) with a very funny looking hat. I bet he thought he was a dandy on the day. What's with the Chinese guy and his rocker box? He was wearing the clothing that was in fashion with his people on the Australian golffields at the time. They all wore the same "trendy hat" and probably mocked anyone in their group who wore anything else. But those black pyjamas would be more at home in the Vietnamese Jungle. What's with the beards on the two guys on the bottom pictures? Well, having a large, bushy beard in the day was a sign that you were a 'manly man' and were either smart or at least highly skilled at whatever you did. Those felt hats were sure popular in the day but they deformed the moment it rained and I can bet you top dollar those guys were too manly for umbrellas.

I wear a cowboy hat myself but seldom in Australia because people stare. It's not fashionable here. But it sure is when i pop into Canada to visit my in-laws. Heck, they even bought the hat for me so I'd be like everyone else there.

No need to make fun of my Western styled hat... I rarely wear it locally. Perhaps I'll get around to it later...

Modern Prospectors: Let's take a look at 'Electronic Prospectors' - which is actually the correct term if you happen to use a metal detector to find your gold. The top picture shows an Australian prospector looking for nuggets with his detector... I notice he's wearing gaiters and boots. Must be for the snakes and terrain. The next picture shows two Sudanese men using a Coiltek Coil on a two-wheel cart to prospect for gold. To me, those fat, bulbous wheels on the cart look like something comical from the Who Framed Roger Rabbit film. But they're not wearing much in the way of foot protection. They might not have too many Egyptian Cobras and Asps in their neck of the woods but there's desert scorpions and even radioactive materials to be found all over the place there. I suppose they're suitably attired if you consider their sense of style over there. I used to wear an Egyptian Kaftan (the name for this style of white dress) when I was in the Middle East so I would blend in more readily when I was shopping. But I also used to wear the sheik-style headress with it so perhaps it's a good thing that no such pictures were taken back in the day. Those two guys in the picture are probably entirely naked underneath so I can't help but think they could do with better footware. The guy below is an American who is (in my opinion) dressed appropriately for just about everything his corner of the woods light throw at him. He's wearing the camo pants which will hide any dirt and he's wearing a baseball cap... just like the guy in the top picture from Australia is wearing and just like I do. When you burn that spot on the top of your head (assuming the reader still has hair), you tend to learn from the experience and wear sunblock and a baseball cap in future. The American seems to be wearing protective kneecaps as well but I can't tell if he's wearing snake gaiters - but, I'd bet he is since he looks pretty well prepared for the day at hand.

Miners are a hardy lot. They are not necessarily prospectors because prospectors look for gold and a miner simply digs for it. You can be a gold miner though - someone who digs for gold. And that's just what these people are. And, again, even though this is the 21st century, we can see plenty of diversity in the styles of clothing worn by various gold miners from around the world. The shirtless look is in place in Ghana but the Congo miners are happy in a singlet and a pair of shorts. The Canadians are wearing polar fleece clothing to keep them warm in the Arctic - though it's hard to see this in the photographs. Our Aussie gold miners are wearing conventional work-and-safety compliant hardhats and boots. Same as the Tanzanian gold miners.

So what sort of gear should a one man or two man prospecting team carry when they are out in remote places looking for gold? That accessory harness that Minelab supplies with any of the high-end detectors is pretty limited because there's only one pouch on it and that's for the battery. We all know how important water is when detecting away from a vehicle or a base camp where the bulk of it would be stored. Then there's the 2-way UHF radio for keeping in touch with one another. A first aid pack is essential. So are fire-making tools and a possibly a torch is useful if you intend to explore a cave or a mine and you might end up getting lost in the bush... hence a GPS is now carried by many prospectors today so they can find their way back safely. Snakes are a serious problem this year with snake plague alerts being issued in two or three states already this year so snake gaiters are essential in the scrub. Do you intend to dig anything out of the ground? If the answer is 'yes', then you might want to consider some kneepads because those sharp stones will cause you immediate and excruciating pain when your knees hit the ground. So many prospectors end up simply sitting on the ground to dig sideways because of the pain to their knees. Add some knee pads to the kit and don't forget the pick and any other digging tools you might need. How about a camera? What about your car keys... you sure don't want to lose those. Just how much junk can you fit into your pack? All this is just for a day's detecting so how much should you carry? The answer is probably: as much as you feel comfortable carrying.

But the question remains: Was I wearing too much or too little of the right equipment? I'd venture a guess and say it was just the right amount of everything.

Not too shabby, even if the boots don't match the gaiters. They will eventually!

I carry what I think I need and are capable of lugging around the bush. I don't dress for any fashion parade or to please others, as I am my own man not influenced by glossy magazines and shop trends. If it is practical and comfortable then it is for me in what every hobby or sport I'm pursuing at the time, I'm sure you have the same thought pattern.

One thing I have learnt from many years competition Game Fishing is that preparation is the key, followed by good piratical equipment, service and well maintained. Following these simple rules resulted in many great captures and comp wins for me and my team.

I'm sure you can take the mud some people throw your way, like all mud it just slips off onto the ground for them to stand in??

"...The American seems to be wearing protective kneecaps as well but I can't tell if he's wearing snake gaiters - but, I'd bet he is since he looks pretty well prepared for the day at hand..."

This fellow's name is "Grubstake". He usually wears snake gaiters below his kneepads.We made him get the Garmin Rino gps he is wearing because it has a build-in radio that will show your positionon a partners Rino when you key it. As well as being a cool way to stay in contact,it's a very valuable addition to safety. In his case he has a medical conditionthat could be triggered at any time but he likes to get out into the back country in the Mother Lode to detect.This was our solution so we would be able to help him should the need arise.(It hasn't btw).The other thing you can't see us wearing when we hunt in this area, is poison oak protective creme. The poison oak is unbelievably thick in these hills and much of the detecting involves some crawling around in the brush.

The only thing I never understand is why do people insist on wearing "camo" type gear when in the bush?In case of accident or getting lost cammo is not going to help !

A good mate of mine once lost a very expensive poket knife when it was of cource in a cammo holster...perfect to prevent those pesky guerilla soldiers from recovering your lost weapons...not so good for a days field trip !!!

newhobby wrote:The only thing I never understand is why do people insist on wearing "camo" type gear when in the bush?In case of accident or getting lost cammo is not going to help !

A good mate of mine once lost a very expensive poket knife when it was of cource in a cammo holster...perfect to prevent those pesky guerilla soldiers from recovering your lost weapons...not so good for a days field trip !!!

What an informative post Nero, and I must add an absolute pleasure to read. Thanks very much for the effort you've put into compiling it.

As for what I wear detecting, I am of the same ilk as Mariner. I couldn't care less about fashion, although if cash flow is good I don't mind spending top dollar on high quality 'classic' outdoor stuff including clothing - it must however be (and usually is hence has become classic) practical. This is first worn 'in town' till it gets a little ratty, then when at this extra comfortable stage of its life, is then worn in the bush till it virtually falls off of me

I will add, I often wear the overalls/workpants with the built-in kneepads, I think the older I get, the more sensitive my knees have become to kneeling on sticks and stones while digging, and my back will no longer handle digging while stooped over standing on my feet

Not at all. Camo doesn't show dirt stains or sweat stains like of the plain fabrics do. I can still stop in and get some takeaway on a drive home and I don't feel like the filthy pig I'd probably look like if I was wearing plain fabric.

And Camo means you can work unnoticed with only the keenest of eyes taking note of your prospecting activities.

Just how many stories have we all heard or told about discovering a great spot, only to have the place torn to pieces overnight by people who saw the operators finding gold only a day before? There's downsides to Camo fabrics (stupid hunters who do not bother to identify targets) but there's also a major benefit which is concealment. I was digging beside a fire trail in the deep bush a few weeks ago and I hear a vehicle approaching... so I crouched closer to the ground and tipped my Coiltek Camo hat down slightly to cover my face... this truck went right past me with three guys in it and I saw the unmistakable details of Minelab detector bag crammed up against the back window. I'm sure they would have stopped to say hello if they'd noticed my own GPX and equipment because I was working on part of a reef that cut across the old track.

Even of properties where I have written permission to visit and detect on, I get farmers who come over the fence to see what the 'stranger' is doing on their neighbor's property. I'm lucky to get a visit at all these days but it's actually a pain to stop working or turn off equipment simply to engage in shallow conversation with snoops.

Those who do see you in Camo assume you're hunting or they simply gather that you are engaged in serious business of some sort. 'Secret Men's Stuff' perhaps? 80%+ the prospectors I know who turn over and average of in excess of 60 ounces in a week all wear camo. Some of them cover their cars with it. One young ex-army chap I know who has turned over a LOT of gold in the last three years since he started even wears face paint.

I'm extremely satisfied that Camo serves multiple uses to the prospector. You think it's a "bit of a wank"? Apparently you don't know what you're missing.

nero_design wrote:........ 80%+ the prospectors I know who turn over and average of in excess of 60 ounces in a week all wear camo. Some of them cover their cars with it. One young ex-army chap I know who has turned over a LOT of gold in the last three years since he started even wears face paint......

wouldn't thier big shiny yellow dozers negate the use of camo?

I mean averaging just under 2 kg a week, they're certainly not getting that just using a detector and not in NSW

"I'm extremely satisfied that Camo serves multiple uses to the prospector. You think it's a "bit of a wank"? Apparently you don't know what you're missing."

well no matter what camo you are wearing if you are moving about swinging a detector you will be seen.camo only works if you are standing still...........And as for not showing up dirt .....thats really a low priority isn't it?Look some cheap old army clobber is great, particularly the pants with lots of pockets to shove stuff into.But I still think drapping yourself in cammo like your some kind of a commando is still a bit of a wank.

Unfortunately, the AusCam pattern (a mottled 3-tone green pattern used by the Australian Army) is appearing on the fashion accessory isles everywhere. There's even a bright pink version if you are so inclined.

And All-AU, those Gailters are the same ones I wear only in Tan/Drab Olive - There's three or four major patterns available including True Timber and Mossy Oak (trademarked patterns). They have a polycarbonate plating in them to prevent punctures from snakes and are incredibly lightweight. I bought mine on Ebay a couple of years ago but Miners Den and even Coiltek now supply them here in Australia. Surprisingly comfortable and easy to adjust.

I figured your Gailters are polycarbonate based material, whilst I mistake the one t I put on for genuine leather. The “cowboy boots” served the same cause as gators before fashion moved in front, but insured the design survival of unique working boots.

Cheers All-Au

Last edited by All-AU on Thu Dec 22, 2011 12:54 am; edited 1 time in total

hi NERO, boy you sure do cop it eh wot! the decorum in your responses/posts is legendary.i think the reason for this is obvious,to some people. so '' CAMMO is a wank '' eh.sure, if you,re playing at SAS out there in the ''JUNGLE'', mbe. but in your favourite digging patch? why not just put up a sign- all welcome, please help your self. ? mbe a some nice balloons tied to trees to highlight the aea. i wear cammo pants every day nearly [ full time wanker spose? ] cos the cheap kmart ones are light and cool and the pockets are handy. i prefer them to ADIDAS etc track pants cos i,m not an athlete nor in TRAINING! obese people in track pants, hmmmmm. i prefer the old army jungle greens but too exoensive i find. wank? running around in shorts getting burnt add probably bitten by all the nasties. pass the ammo. dismissed!

goldslugger wrote: hi NERO, boy you sure do cop it eh wot! the decorum in your responses/posts is legendary.i think the reason for this is obvious,to some people. so '' CAMMO is a wank '' eh.sure, if you,re playing at SAS out there in the ''JUNGLE'', mbe. but in your favourite digging patch? why not just put up a sign- all welcome, please help your self. ? mbe a some nice balloons tied to trees to highlight the aea. i wear cammo pants every day nearly [ full time wanker spose? ] cos the cheap kmart ones are light and cool and the pockets are handy. i prefer them to ADIDAS etc track pants cos i,m not an athlete nor in TRAINING! obese people in track pants, hmmmmm. i prefer the old army jungle greens but too exoensive i find. wank? running around in shorts getting burnt add probably bitten by all the nasties. pass the ammo. dismissed!

Look I seem to have upset somepeople with my camo is a wank comment.....sorry if I have stepped on anyones toes.Wearing pants is one thing but getting dressed up from head to toe, painting your face and wrapping all your gear in camo tape to me seems a little ridiculous.But hey if thats the way you want to walk around good luck to you go right ahead.....what ever floats your boat.I enjoy a lot of Nero's posts they are quite often very interesting and informative but he does seem to be someone that likes to accessorize when he goes out. He seems to be a very stylish and fashion conscious man and thats no bad thing I guess.I recently spent time in WA and I must admit the people I was with really had no idea of how to co ordinate their outfits......me included.Im off to the disposals store now to check out next seasons you beaut you cant see me suits.

shicer wrote:For those that can't see the obvious Mr Nero is a salesman and he is clearly marketing various prospecting accessories on this forum , which i don't agree with . i just feel sorry for his wife ..

Troll much?Shicer: I don't sell any of the accessories I was wearing on the day and in the photographs in question .... even the Garrett Pinpointer that you can't see in the pictures because it's on the front side of my pack. Even the pick I use. Even the shirts I wear. And as for the accessories mentioned: I don't sell boots. I don't sell camo shirts or caps. I don't sell 2-Way UHF radios. I don't sell Garmin GPS units. I don't sell Electronic Mosquito Repellers. I don't sell PLBs (Personal Locator Beacons). I don't sell flashlights. I don't sell Tritium Kit Markers. I don't sell Camelbak Backpacks. I don't sell Kit tape (even in non-Camo). I imported my Custom-Made control box cover from the USA and supplied details of the maker here previously. I don't sell knee caps and ordered these from overseas last month via Ebay. And I bought the snake gaiters from the USA via Ebay before Coiltek started importing them. Wrote about that previously here too. Hell, I didn't even mention the detector I used on the day.

Seriously Shicer, what exactly is your problem? I've just pointed out the obvious to you and confirmed you were wrong in claiming I am "marketing various prospecting accessories on the forum". Anyone else feel the same?

_________________________________________ShicerShi'cer (shī'sẽr) noun [ Prob. from German scheisser one who dungs.] (Mining) An unproductive mine; a duffer. [ Australia]Found on http://www.encyclo.co.uk/webster/S/87

Shicer• (n.) An unproductive mine; a duffer.ShicerShicer is old slang for a worthless or contemptible person or thing; a swindler or cheat.

Hey Nero,Edward Hargraves didnt deserve half the credit he received,as others had discovered that Australia had payable goldfields well before he did. You were right about the rock throwing bit though,he deserved to be stoned alive.This forum is about free speach,correct me if im wrong Everyone is entitled to their own opinion,and by posting pictures of your choice of detecting gear,you leave yourself open to that.If sombody thinks its a wank,good on them for airing their thoughts." I disagree with your comments but will defend with my life your right to say them",should be our motto here.I normally enjoy your posts but I feel that you have become righteous of late,if not bordering on Pompous.You are a valued member of this forum,and should not be above the law,so to speak.Anyway Ive said my peace,and its Christmas after all.

I don't care about the comments on what I post and what I wear. What I disagree with is someone here claiming that I am spruiking these products for sale when I am clearly not. This makes for an offensive post by someone who knows better. Since he knows better, I would suggest he is Trolling.

giveitup, i know when i'm out my gear gets all dusty and scratched up even my hands get dirty bugger. note don't wear your good jeans out as the wife cracks them when you get home some peope just like to impress.... i love going out finding gold and showing it on the video clips and posting the pix up. i don't see why more people do it.

hey nero there out for you mate i would put on the cammo and go bush for a few days

Although not sure if i agree cowboy style hats aren't fashionable here? 2 head ipswich city not unusual to see them and most outback towns in QLD it is. not unusual in Brisbane city either. i have several

giveitup wrote:.... blah, blah, blah....even your pick is clean your a fony-fake! Shicer well said mate iam bloody glad that someone is onto him. iam frigin shore that most blokes on this forum will agree that nero tugs it 24-7 so dont be scared to say so! come on .

The same pick in question back in 2008/2009 before damage from a block of unfired quartz. Same pick... THREE years ago.

LOL! Let's just look at that pick for a moment since it's clear to everyone that you have a very bad case of Pick-Envy: That pick has been repainted 5 times and resharpened twice... it's also blunt on the reinforced tip from breaking some quartz with it a few years ago. I even sanded the wooden shaft between seasons as suggested by another prospector and any cracks filled in with putty before binding it in elastic tape for better grip and to prevent damage to my detector shafts when in transit. We also had other digging equipment which is not in frame for the camera.

I'm afraid it's time to get back to my can of Beaver Buzz. You've painted yourself as yet another fool and the friend of a Troll. Enjoy the "false bottom" of your schicer holes!

Razgo: Yeah, Western style hats are not so common in Sydney although my wife wears hers from time to time and she actually draws the odd stare when she does so... which is funny because they suit her and she grew up wearing them on the Alberta farms she hails from.

Stoppsy: It's just a couple of the regulars from this and another forum trying to score brownie points with one another. I think they're in love, actually. Perhaps this is some sort of courtship ritual?

I wrote this thread on Prospecting Attire to poke fun at myself and I also put it together because I personally found it to be interesting and i thought others might appreciate that there's really no rules for what you wear. Just wear what you think you need. If you get it wrong, there's always next time.

Unfortunately, there appear to be "unwritten" rules about posting a picture depicting a brand new gear (ie equipment/clothing etc) and a clean pick... because (wait for it) ... if there's no visible signs of wear on the new items, the person using them ... must not have used them yet.

I am in awe of any forum where a couple of select members have a combined I.Q. of less than zero. In fact, I didn't think it was possible.

From now on, I shall post my replies more slowly... and I will select a slower shutter speed on my cameras before uploading any of the images here.